Snake Handling is Wrong?

[Bro-Larry]

The incident of some others letting the snakes loose, was not intentional to Bro Hensley. That's why it was scriptural in that case only to do what he did.

When the practice became intentional, then we have no scriptural example for it, and those who do it are on their own. You see the results of being on your own. Bro Hensley died of snake bites, so did his sister and many others.

Basicly it seems that you and I agree, for we be brothers.

[StillStanding]

What if the snake ate your pet bird?

[Bro-Larry]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Snake Handling shows the free will of man, we seem to be able to make the choice of how we will live our lives within the boundaries of which God has placed us. Only those that are born into the context of WV "snake handlers" will ever attempt such a dangerous path. Or else someone that has lost their mind.

Crak, This practice is really no different than other unscriptural practice.
True God gave us the right to make wrong choices.

[MrsMcD]

I dislike when people find out I am pentecostal and ask me if I handle snakes. It really makes me mad. I have never been around snake handlers and I didn't know they existed until I saw it on TV.

[tv1a]

I would love to pick your brain about the topic. You have put more eloquently what I've been saying. It bothers me when people question the intelligence of a snake handle on one side then on the other side turn around then use the internet to bash television.

This topic interests me because I have an idea for a move about a snake handling preacher.

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Actually, Bro. Larry, I agree, but only to a point. Allow me to explain. I have been to the Dolly Pond (TN area- just north of Chattanooga) where Serpent Handling originated under the ministry of George Hensley. I heard this from Bro. Perry Beattis who was converted under Bro. Hensleys ministry. They said, in the 20's, George Hensley was not a popular Church of God preacher. He was against drinking, smoking "Chewing" and just about every vice those Tennessee hill folks loved. He preached holiness hard and uncompromisingly. One night, some "good ol' boys" decided to run this preacher off. They bagged up some rattlesnakes and turned them loose in the church while Bro. Hensley was preaching. People began screaming and running out the door. When Bro. Hensley saw what was happening, he said God spoke these words to him- Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luk 10:19 The Spirit of the Lord came upon the brother and he walked back, picked up the snakes and they all fell dead. When the hooligans saw Bro. Hensley standing there holding a hand full of dead snakes, the fear of God fell on them and they all ran to the altar. Later, that "act" of faith and obedience became a doctrine- a "standard" by which anothers persons spirituality is judged. It has since become nothing more than a side show- an empty ritual.

I believe, in that one instance, Bro. Hensley followed Mark 16:18 as it was meant to be followed. Once that one act of God became "doctrine" IMO, those who carry snakes in a box to church are of the same spirit as that of the hooligans. I've been to the Church of God with Signs Following at Dolly Pond when they handled snakes. Even preached a revival there (they didn't handle snakes during the revival out of respect for me). Don't agree with the practice... don't condone it at all. But, at the same time, can't condemn a person for taking the Bible literally.

Tempting Goid. I do believe some who handle snakes ARE tempting God- but, not in the way most might think. Lets look at how Luke records this:

Luk 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
Luk 4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
Luk 4:11 And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Luk 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Notice the words, "IF thou be the Son of God...." Jesus didn't have to "prove" who He was. The angel announced who He was at His birth. Jumping off the building would prove nothing. Jesus "proved" who he was by fulfilling His earthly mission, through His death, burial resurrection. Act 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Had Jesus yeilded to Satan's demand of "proof", that would have twarted Gods intention...that, to me is tempting God. Snakehandlers who seek to "prove" their faith and spirituality by handling snakes is tempting God by drawing attention and glory to, not God, but themselves. It all goes to the intent of the heart.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by tv1a

I would love to pick your brain about the topic. You have put more eloquently what I've been saying. It bothers me when people question the intelligence of a snake handle on one side then on the other side turn around then use the internet to bash television.

This topic interests me because I have an idea for a move about a snake handling preacher.

Not much of a brain left here to pick. The book I mentioned, "Salvation on Sand Mountain" is a great resource for info. Dennis Covington "lived" among sepent handlers, and grew to really admire them- even handled a serpent himself. Serpent handlers aren't ignorant- some, uneducated, yes, but not ignorant. They are (maybe out of necessity) a people of great faith. Theres a serpent handling church not far from me. Think I'll go and take some pictures.

[tv1a]

I have that book. An excellent book. Covington is a phenominal writer. I have more respect for snake handlers than I do the West Coast Mafia who tries to tell me internet is okay and television is not.

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Not much of a brain left here to pick. The book I mentioned, "Salvation on Sand Mountain" is a great resource for info. Dennis Covington "lived" among sepent handlers, and grew to really admire them- even handled a serpent himself. Serpent handlers aren't ignorant- some, uneducated, yes, but not ignorant. They are (maybe out of necessity) a people of great faith. Theres a serpent handling church not far from me. Think I'll go and take some pictures.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by tv1a

I have that book. An excellent book. Covington is a phenominal writer. I have more respect for snake handlers than I do the West Coast Mafia who tries to tell me internet is okay and television is not.

Do you remember reading the names McClocklin and Summerford?
Dunn? Uley Lynn? I knew all those guys. I have known Glen Summerford for years (though he had always been an "in and out, off again, on again" type). In church for a few months, then trying o drink the county dry. When I went to the church at Dolly Pond, I sat on the front row. Before service started, Bro. Perry came up and told me that this was a "signs following" church (code worde for "serpent handling". He said they'd be handling serpents that night and suggested that I might want to move back toward the back. I said, "No, I'm fine". Sure 'nuff, they brought the snakes out. It was a little different singing, "Theres power in the Blood" while watching what had to be the biggest rattlesnake I had ever seen being passed back and forth between the brother on my right and the brother on my left. One brother offered it to me, I just shook my head and kept right on worshipping the Lord.

I was to go with a brother in a revival in Canton, Ga one time. The night before we left, I had a dream that I was standing in a clearing in the woods where there was a bunch of old cars. A snake came out of the woods and began chasing me. I'd run and hop up on one of the old cars. I told the brother, and he said we sure needed to pray about it. We went to Canton (a non- snake handling church) and before service started, he and I walked down an old road into the woods to pray. There, in a clearing were a bunch of old junked cars just like what I saw in the dream. Thats where we prayed.

As service was about to start, a car pulled up and some men got out. I welcomed them to the revival. As it turned out, they were snake handlers (Bro. Carl Porter and Bro. Glass and another Brother-Bro. Glass has since died from being bitten). They attempted to bring snakes in, but the Lord rebuked them in a most remarkable way. If you live in the south... in my neck of the woods, at least, and have a Pentecostal church, you will be visited at one time or another by snake handlers.

[tv1a]

Wasn't Summorford the one who attempted to kill his wife by sticking her hand in a box of rattlesnakes? Sounds like something from a Kinky Friedman novel.

I read not too long ago the guy the called Pumpkin was killed by a snakebite. I hated to hear about that. I liked what I read about him. Big guy raising a bunch of kids by himself because his wife died from a snake bite. He followed her into the afterlife a few years later.

You can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these guys are Jesus Name baptized Spirit filled believers.

I would love to hear more stories about snake handlers from people like you who respect their beliefs, and have witnessed some of the events.

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Do you remember reading the names McClocklin and Summerford?
Dunn? Uley Lynn? I knew all those guys. I have known Glen Summerford for years (though he had always been an "in and out, off again, on again" type). In church for a few months, then trying o drink the county dry. When I went to the church at Dolly Pond, I sat on the front row. Before service started, Bro. Perry came up and told me that this was a "signs following" church (code worde for "serpent handling". He said they'd be handling serpents that night and suggested that I might want to move back toward the back. I said, "No, I'm fine". Sure 'nuff, they brought the snakes out. It was a little different singing, "Theres power in the Blood" while watching what had to be the biggest rattlesnake I had ever seen being passed back and forth between the brother on my right and the brother on my left. One brother offered it to me, I just shook my head and kept right on worshipping the Lord.

I was to go with a brother in a revival in Canton, Ga one time. The night before we left, I had a dream that I was standing in a clearing in the woods where there was a bunch of old cars. A snake came out of the woods and began chasing me. I'd run and hop up on one of the old cars. I told the brother, and he said we sure needed to pray about it. We went to Canton (a non- snake handling church) and before service started, he and I walked down an old road into the woods to pray. There, in a clearing were a bunch of old junked cars just like what I saw in the dream. Thats where we prayed.

As service was about to start, a car pulled up and some men got out. I welcomed them to the revival. As it turned out, they were snake handlers (Bro. Carl Porter and Bro. Glass and another Brother-Bro. Glass has since died from being bitten). They attempted to bring snakes in, but the Lord rebuked them in a most remarkable way. If you live in the south... in my neck of the woods, at least, and have a Pentecostal church, you will be visited at one time or another by snake handlers.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Wasn't Summorford the one who attempted to kill his wife by sticking her hand in a box of rattlesnakes? Sounds like something from a Kinky Friedman novel.

I read not too long ago the guy the called Pumpkin was killed by a snakebite. I hated to hear about that. I liked what I read about him. Big guy raising a bunch of kids by himself because his wife died from a snake bite. He followed her into the afterlife a few years later.

You can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these guys are Jesus Name baptized Spirit filled believers.

I would love to hear more stories about snake handlers from people like you who respect their beliefs, and have witnessed some of the events.

Yeah that was Glen who was convicted of attempted murder by forcing his wife's hand into a cage of rattlesnakes. You are thinking of "Punkin" Brown. Yeah, he died as well. Can't remember how long it was since his wife had died. I didn't know him. Most serpent handlers are Jesus Name. Its ironic that serpent handling originated in the Church of God, but migrated its way into Jesus Name circles. I read a book years ago by T.L. Lowery. Bro Lowery was a well known tent revivalist in the 40's and 50's and is now a Assistant General Overseer of the Church of God. In the book, Bro. Lowery condones the practice of handling serpents. This, of course was written before the Church of God banned the practice.

I wouldn't say that I respect their beliefs, but I do respect them as God-fearing Christians. They aren't the wackos they are made out to be. They just believe what the believe and act on it. They deserve our respect as a people who simply believe God's Word. I don't condone or advocate the practice, and wouldn't paint these folks as a bunch of crazies. I have met them and knew some of them. They are, as one serpent handler said: " ...normal people but we believe God's word."

Info about Punkin Brown: http://members.tripod.com/Yeltsin/Punkin/punkin.html

Serpent Handlers:
http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/.../overview.html
http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/oct19...3-article2.htm